What would you do differently? (SOA inc)

Little_Vics

just quickly on contact lenses - check out https://www.getlenses.co.uk. They're cheap - I wear daily disposables and spend £150 a year.

PatchCabbage

Little Vics...I've checked out those type of sites before and I would love to use them but whilst I'm leaking money I can't afford the ~£90 outlay (for two different eyes at around £90 for 3 months according to the site). Although I do think a break from my current contract is a good plan!

Tixy

Hi Patch - good to hear you are going for the spending diary (do try to keep it up for a month though!)

Re the lenses - I used to be with D&A and I ended up with a 'stockpile' so I cancelled for 4months and then went back to them. 2months after restarting them I found the cheaper ones and so cancelled then - I do kindof know how you feel loyalty but really its wasted money, they had no problem with me cancelling (perhaps even say you can't afford lenses so are cancelling and just wearing glasses for a bit, if you find that easier than saying you are going somewhere cheaper.)
This article should help - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/Cheap-Contact-Lenses

As for glasses, if you like lots of pairs consider buying a least some online - I have 1 good pair and now have 2 spare pairs which cost me around £10 each, 1 of which I wear reading in bed so I don't damage the good ones) - occasional really good deals are posted in the weekly email http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/cheap-glasses but I had some from this offer - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1699221 which really are okay.

Good luck and have fun cashing in the piggies!

property.advert

Are you saying that you actually spend £398*12=£4,776 a year on travel expenses ? If so, can you break it down and the length of your journeys.

slummymummyof3

Are you buying yourself lunch each day at work? This will soon clock up on the old finances. Make yourself packed lunches for work.

SammyD_2

Why would you feel bad about cancelling D&A? They are making money out of you. I cancelled after one month as the only way they would let me trial new lenses was if I signed up for their monthly plan...don't get me started on anti competitive behaviour...

I second using get-lenses or similar. Also, why not switch to glasses for a while - no cost of solution, or lenses. I do this when I am feeling really short of cash.

Also, if you are in credit for your utilities, can you not just stop paying for a while - you are just giving them an interest free loan of YOUR MONEY.

Also, are you committed to the holiday - it is very expensive. Why not put on hold for a year and go debt free...

ERICS_MUM

As you mention TFL I assume you commute into London. Do you buy a newspaper, coffee, croissant , sandwich for lunch etc on your way to "the office" ? I used to do that and worked out I was spending over £5 a day :eek:, even more if I "treated" myself to a glossy magazine.

My lenses are from D&A. I have monthly disposables which cost £14.95. Until recently I needed one toric lens for astigmatism so my bill was £19.95. Could you change to monthly instead of daily disposables ? Also as an earlier poster said, you probably have a stockpile of lenses from days when you wear glasses instead. D&A will suspend delivery and payment for 6 months on request - I've done this several times and they are great about it.

I would definitely ask for a return of your surplus balances for gas and electricity, but have a quick look at your last winter's bills to see how much you used before you work out how much to ask for.

You also list stocks and bonds of £390. Could you sell them? You are not going to get much interest/income from such a small amount, but it would almost pay off one of your cards.

Good luck !

Linda :T

lemoncheesecake

PatchCabbage wrote: »

I feel a bit funny doing that... we've been together more than 5 years and yet I only confessed to having debts earlier this year (2009). If we were to buy together then perhaps I'd consider a loan from him but for now I want to try to dig my way out on my own.

We have a joint account for bills and tescos and single accounts for all other expenses. If we were married perhaps we'd combine into one account but for now we're separate- otherwise I would feel like he is suffering because of me?

(most of my debt came from a uni course which I don't feel he should pay for).

I understand what you are saying but if your future is together then you would collectively be far better off if you did this which would mean more money for your deposit (ultimately benefitting OH). Also, do you earn exactly the same which is why you go halves on everything???

vandanfc

How do you pay for things ? If it isn't cash, have a look at your bank statements and add up how much cash you actually take out each month, then work out what you spend it on - this could be a big part of your leak !

jayss

Have you accounted for SW fees or are you just using the materials?

D&A will let you take a break from the contacts without losing your benefits, I did this for a while before cancelling - I still had lenses left at the end of the break....

If you can manage to have £400 left at the end of the month you can knock the debts off in no time. :beer: